Rukaya Mohammed
Clark University
International Development, Community, and Environment Department / Ghana
Research Topic: Analyzing the Impact of Micro-credit on Women's Empowerment in Northern Ghana

I was born in a district called Salaga in the northern part of Ghana. I have three brothers and three sisters. I graduated from the University for Development Studies in Ghana in 2001 with a bachelor degree in Agricultural Technology (Economics and Extension option). I worked with two Non-Governmental Organizations: New Energy and Oxfam's Market Access Promotion Network Program both in Tamale in the northern part of Ghana for three years. Currently, I am pursuing my master's degree in International Development and Social Change at Clark University.

I come from the northern part of Ghana where women have very low status as compared to their male counterparts. As a result female education is not considered a worthy investment by most parents. It was therefore difficult for me to reach this far in terms of education. I had to work part time since my High School period in order to help my mother pay for my education. Based on my experience, I have resolved to pursue a career that will contribute to uplift women status in northern Ghana. Some of my significant contribution include the following: trained 1030 women beneficiaries on micro credit and micro enterprise development and loan management skills; coordinated the disbursement of $34,000 loans to 1030 women in 50 different income generating groups; linked 15 women small scale associations of handicraft producers to 5 international buyers for a sustainable business partnership; collected, analyzed and disseminated market information to 55 women small scale producer associations in Ghana; Trained 900 women beneficiaries on the construction of energy efficient woodstoves to minimize the use of firewood; conducted an evaluation of the Oxfam's Market Access Promotion Network Program in 2004; collected based line data from eight Focal Development Partners of Oxfam GB in 32 Ghanaian communities using the Policy Analysis for Participatory Poverty Alleviation (PAPPA) methods for the implementation of Oxfam livelihoods program in 2003 and coordinated five girl child education campaign in northern Ghana. My professional goal is to become a gender advocate and information management specialist.